Network Rail has announced that it has appointed three new directors for its Wales and West region:

• Nick Millington moves into the permanent role of route director on the Wales and Borders route;
• Marcus Jones has been appointed as the new route director for the Western route;
• Sophie Bancroft takes on the role of operations director, also for the Western route.

Millington began his career on the railway more than thirty years ago and has led Network Rail‘s ‘Safety Task Force’, reducing near misses by 70% over a three-year period. He was awarded a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) gong in the King’s New Year Honours, 2023. He has been interim route director for Wales and Borders since June 2022, when he took over from Bill Kelly.

Jones will join Network Rail from June 2023, moving from his current role as train service delivery director at MTR Elizabeth line. He has worked on the railway for most of his twenty-year career, including on the Anglia route with Network Rail and with train operators across Britain. He was awarded a British Empire Medal in 2020 for his contributions for transport during the COVID-19 pandemic.

David Davidson has been leading the Western route on an interim basis, and will start his new role as route director for Kent in the Southern region this summer.

Bancroft has spent fifteen years at Transport for London, most recently as head of customer service on the Central ad Waterloo & City lines. She has also worked in strategic functions and has advocated for diversity in the workplace. She is also a non-exec director for the London Transport Museum.

Sophie replaces Keith Andrews who, who is retiring after thirty-two years at Network Rail.

Network Rail intends that the three new directors for Wales and Western will play a key role in boosting performance, safety and resilience, working closely with train operating partners, freight customers and industry colleagues to deliver a greater railway across the region.

Michelle Handforth, regional managing director for Network Rail Wales and Western region, said: “I am excited to announce our three new director appointments across Wales and Western – huge congratulations to them all.

“Marcus’s knowledge of the operational railway and experience in the critical Thames Valley corridor between Reading and London Paddington, and Sophie’s passion for putting people and customers at the heart of everything she does, will both be incredible assets to the Western route.

“With Nick’s leadership, I’m confident we will continue to improve performance, working as one team with TfW and Amey Infrastructure Wales. I know Nick will drive a forensic approach to safety and performance, making our railway in Wales more resilient and meeting the needs of communities across Wales.”

Nick Millington OBE, route director at Network Rail for Wales and Borders route, said: “The Wales and Borders route has been my home for some time now and I have enjoyed every day working as interim route director.

“Thankfully, I have a great team and have developed some fantastic new relationships with our partners at Transport for Wales and Amey Infrastructure Wales, and I know these partnerships will help us to deliver a safe and efficient railway for our passengers and customers.

“I look forward to delivering the best possible railway for Wales and Borders.”

Marcus Jones, newly appointed route director at Network Rail for Western route, said: “I am truly delighted to be stepping into this new role. It’s going to be a great experience coming back working within Network Rail, and I look forward to working with new, and some old, faces as well as our partners to improve performance.

“I have dedicated my career to delivering a railway service that passengers and train operators truly deserve and will continue to do so in this new role.”

Sophie Bancroft, newly appointed operations director at Network Rail for Western route, commented: “I’m really excited to start my new role at Network Rail. I have spent my whole career at TfL learning, developing and working with great people to deliver an effective operational service.

“I can’t wait to work with a new team, in an industry that I love, to help improve performance with our partners across the route.”